Carton conveying and transfer mechanism



April 14,1959 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL CARTON CONVEYING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Dec. 29, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS: HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK ,anafw ATT'YS April 14, 1959 H. E. ENGLESON ET AL 2,831,682

CARTON CONVEYING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM I Filed Dec. 29, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELMER D. SRAMEK April 14, 1959v H. E. ENGLESON ET AL CARTON CONVEYING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2 9, 1 55 4 Shets-Sheet 3 m K. m$ wL NGA WNW m ED YR mm AL HE 3 9 a ATT'YS 7 April 14, 1959 H. E. ENGLESON ET AL 28 CARTON CONVEYING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM 33 INVENTORSf v HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK United States Patent CARTON CONVEYING "AND TRANSFER i MECHANISM E. Engleson, Chicago, "and Elmer D. jSr'amek,

CiceroyIlL, assigno'rsto F. B.'Redington Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation-01? Delaware Application December 29, 1'955,'Serial No; 556,118 12 Claims. (Cl; 93- 53) This invention relates, in general, to a machine or "device'for arranging cartons inposition to receive articles, and particularly to conditioning or arranging cartons so that articles may be inserted freely and easily therein.

More specifically, the invention relates to mechanism for type cartons, and expanding the flattened carton into expanded form as the carton is being removed from the stack. The collapsed cartons in the stack are arranged front face-up and are'retained in that positionafterre- -moval from the stack'in the magazine. The flattened carton, afterr'emoval from the stack, is then arranged in a transfer wheel and transported'to a carton support on a bucket of an intermittently moving bucket conveyer. The carton is ofa special specifictype, even though the main body is of-a conventional nature. :The cartonlhas "its outer orfront face provided with cutouts,-and a sheet of clear material, such as acetate or cellophane, is secured to the inner'side of thevfront or top face thereof. The acetate'sheet is slightly longer than .the normallengthof the carton and, therefore, a part of the acetate sheet vprojects outwardly of the carton a-predetermined distance. The extension or projection of the acetate liner or sheet is provided toprevent the-acetate sheet from becomingfouled by the articles as they are being moved from the article receiving tray of the-bucket into the carton. The carton is transferred from a transfer wheel to a bucketin reverseposition, so that the carton will be face 'down with its bottom side facing upwardly. Means are provided to cause'the 'en'd ca'rton closureflap, which is integral'with the bottom of the carton, to be sprung outwardly awavfrom the bottom side of'the carton for "easy filling purposes. -Als'0, thecarton side flaps or tucks are caused to be spread outwardly. Means are also provided forcausing"thejprojected end of the acetate sheet "to' be'bent backwardly so "that'the're will be no interference with thearticles as they are being inserted-into the open fillingend of the carton.

The'primaryobject of thepresent invention consists inthe provision'of newandnovel means for transferring fiat collapsed cartons from a magazine into an intermittently operating transfer wheel with "the carton arranged therein in expanded formation, the rotation -of the wheel being in a direction'oppos'ite'or reverse to the longitudinal directional movement'of the buckets of a conveyer which receives the expanded cartons.

Another importanfobject of the invention consists in theprovision'of newand novel means for causing'the side tucks or flaps of the carton, on at least one end thereof, to be spread outwardly by the engagement -of inclined side edges onthe article .support of the bucket, there being means to depress-the carton closure and the projecting end ofan -inner attached acetate sheet, and

"'ice to maintain said parts in an out-of-the way position'to "prevent fouling of the said parts with the articles as they are being inserted into the carton.

A furtherwimpoi'tant object "the invention consists in the provision of' new' arid-novel means for causing the operation of an "operating member t'ocause the projecting "en'dof the sheet 'or"liner' to'be'held away from. the filling "endof'the containcr"so'tliat articleslto be inserted in' the "carton' willqnot become "fouledwith thesheet, thenpa'nel "or with the'fiaps of'thecontainer.

A further object consists in "the (provision of new and improved operablemea'ns' which operate injp'roper l timed relation with otherjparts or elements of the machineiso that each 'of the'operable'mean's will operate in correlal5 fgres'sive steps of 'ope'ration'for expanding Ia collapsed carton, transferring "the expanded carton to vpredetertion 'withcertain'other, parts to effect uninterrupted promined positions, and maintaining the carton closure-and *fiaps' and "the projection on' the liner or sheet in aproper "predetermined position for free and easy insertion of articles 'into" the container.

.Still another object'of the invention resides in providing a specific type of bucket on aconveyer cooperating with a special type of carton, whereby newand novel mechanism will maintain the carton and certain of .its associated parts'in a, predetermined position and arrangement.

Numerous other objectsand advantages will be -apf'parent-throughout thep'rogress of the specification which is to follow.

The accompanying dra'wingsillustrate a certain selected embodiment ofthe invention, and the views therein -.are asfollowsz Fig. 1- is a "detailperspective view of azpartof .acon- 'veying, transfer and container conditioning machine, and embodying the invention;

Fig/Zis a detail diagrammatic or :schema tiq-perspective view 'showing'the manner inwhich the cartons are transferred "from the carton magazine into .a vtransfer wheel and then to a cartonsupport of a conveyer bucket;

-Fig. 3 is a 'detaikperspective view ofthe suction device and apart of the transfer wheel, and showing the manner in'which the lowermost carton is engaged bypneumatic or suction mechanism for .placing the .same into the pockets of a transfer wheel;

Fig. '4 is a detail sectional view .on'the line -4--4-.-.of

Fig. 3, disclosing -'the:manner-.in whichathefiattened cartherewith for discharging acartonfrom the transfer wheel and-causing the. carton to be placed on the cartonsupport of a bucket;

Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view disclosing certain mechanism for shiftingthe cartonito a position adjacent the article tray of a bucket to. spread the side-flaps and to 'defiect the acetate: sheet andatheclosure panel;

Figji 7 is-a detailperspective-view of the .carton .ofthe invention withits-bottomside up, the article receiving end of the cartonbeing-'atthe left-hand side;

.Fig. 8.is .a deta'ilvperspective view of the carton-with its top facing upwardly;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view showing certain operating mechanism forde'flecting the'acetate sheet and the end closure panel, and for holding thosepartstand the side flaps-imposition;

Fig. 10v is a detail-transverse: sectional viewrfon theline 4 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. llis a .detail longitudinal: sectional viewfon 'th line 11--11 of Fig. 6; I

Fig. 12 is a detail top' plan view of certain of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 11; and

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of the article receiving trays of the buckets.

The particular construction herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a machine, device or mechanism for conditioning or processing cartons to he filled with articles which have been previously gathered in a predetermined formation or arrangement, and then arranging the cartons in position on the carton supports of buckets of a bucket conveyer. The article conveyer part of the bucket comprises a rigid part con necting the carton support and the article tray which have their cooperating end arranged in close proximity.

The articles to be cartoned or packaged may be any kind of articles for which the machine of the present invention is adapted, but the present invention is for the specific purpose of packaging .22 caliber rifle cartridges. Of course, other articles than rifle cartridges are adapted to be cal-toned in a carton of the specific type herein shown and described.

The particular part of the machine comprising the present invention is for arranging certain specific cartons in a certain preferred manner. That part of the machine for gathering articles for packaging purposes is shown and claimed in applicants copending application Case 153 and assigned to the present assignee.

The machine 1 of the present invention, Fig. 1, includes an intermittently endless conveyer 2 made up of a plurality of hingedly connected buckets 3. Each bucket 3 comprises an article tray 4 and a carton support 5, Fig. 1. The article tray 4 is provided with rows of grooves to receive a plurality of rows of articles (cartridges). The carton support 5 is provided with upstanding sides 6, 6 which extend a predetermined distance from its bottom 7. The space between the upstanding sides 6, 6 is substantially equal to the width of a carton upon which it is to be supported in expanded condition. The articles, such as cartridges, which are received in the grooves on the cartridge tray 4, are adapted to be shifted therefrom and placed in a carton on the carton support 5. Each bucket 3, including the article tray 4 and the carton support 5 are integrally connected together and are in the same plane. This arrangement maintains the parts in relative proper position andprevents shifting movement of one member with respect to the other.

The construction, arrangement and operation of the bucket conveyer 2, the buckets 3, the construction of the buckets, including the article tray 4 and the carton support, as well as the operation thereof are described in the aforesaid copending application.

The present invention has to do primarily with the transferring and conveying of the cartons, and to arranging the cartons in a specific manner so that the articles on the article trays 4 may be inserted easily and readily within the cartons.

A carton magazine 8, Fig. 1, is rigidly mounted on a suitable part of the frame 1 to hold a stack 9 of collapsed, flattened cartons which are arranged in superposed relation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The lowermost carton of the stack is adapted to be engaged by suction cups 10, 10, Figs. 3 and 4, which are carried by an oscillating support 11. As the cups 10 successively engage the lowermost carton of the stack 9, they are pulled downwardly out of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 4. The lowermost carton, as it is being removed from the stack 9 by the pneumatic means 10 and 11, will'engage an inner side wall 12 and an outer opposed inclined block 13 at the discharge end of the magazine.

. The engagement of the carton with the parts 12 and 13 will cause the carton to expand, and be in the condition shown 1n Figs. 2, 7 and 8 to form expanded cartons 14, Figs. 7 to 10. The expanded cartons 14 are arranged in successive pockets 15, Figs. land 3, of a transfer wheel 16.

insertion operation.

The transfer wheel 16 comprises spaced apart disks 17, 17 having opposed cutouts 18 formed therein, Figs. 1, 3 and 5, which cutouts form the pockets 15 in the transfer wheel 16. The disks 17 are rigidly connected together, being mounted on a driven transfer shaft 19 which is intermittently rotated in a clockwise direction and in correlation with the intermittent movement of the conveyer 2 and its buckets 3.

The conveyer 2 operates in the linear direction shown by the directional arrows in Figs. 1 and 5, while the transfer wheel 16 rotates in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the directional arrows, also shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Successive expanded cartons 14, Fig. 2, are arranged top side up in successive pockets 15, Figs. 1 and 3, at the top of the transfer wheel and then are carried in a clockwise direction by the transfer wheel 16 to the bottom thereof, Fig. 5, where they are ejected bottom side up from their respective pockets by means of ejector means 20.

The ejector means 20, Fig. 5, comprise spaced apart arms 21, 21 which are arranged between the side disks 17, 17 of the transfer wheel 16. The arms 21 are oscillated in timed relation with the intermittent rotation of the transfer wheel 16, and with the oscillatory movement of the support 11, as well as the intermittent horizontal traveling movement of the conveyor 2. The arms 21 are secured to an oscillating shaft 22 which receives oscillatory movement by a moving part of the machine, such as from an operating shaft (not shown). The arms 21 normally lie between the side plates 17 of the rotary transfer wheel 16, but are caused to oscillate downwardly from the dotted line position to the full line position, shown in Fig. 5, when the transfer wheel 16 transfers an expanded carton 14 to the bottom end of the wheel. The shaft 22 causes the arms 21 to oscillate downwardly and eject a formed carton 14 from its pocket 15 and deposit it bottom side up in a bucket 3, and then returns upwardly ready for the next succeeding ejecting operation.

The collapsed cartons in the stack 9, Fig. 1, are superposed one on the other with their upper sides or faces facing upwardly. The lowermost carton from the stack 9, after leaving the stack, is received in a pocket 15 in expanded condition with the top face thereof also facing upwardly, Fig. 2. However, as the transfer wheel 16 rotates in a clockwise direction approximately one hundred and eighty degrees, the expanded carton 14 will be placed on top of the carton support 5 with the top 23 of the carton facing downwardly, and its bottom face 24 contacting the bottom 7 of the carton support 5, Figs. 9 and 10. The bottom face 24 of the carton, which now faces upwardly, has its integral end closure panel 25 and its tuck flap 26 projecting outwardly toward the article tray 4. A right-and flap 27 and a left-hand flap 28, at the sides of the carton also, extend outwardly and forwardly toward the article tray, Fig. 7.

The upper face or surface 23 of the carton 14, Figs. 2, 3, and 8, is provided with cutouts 29 so that articles inserted in each carton 14 may be seen readily through the front face 23 of the carton. An inner sheet or liner 30 is arranged inside of each carton to cover the openings.

The sheet 30, Figs. 7 to 10, is preferably made of transparent material, such as acetate or cellophane, being arranged against the inner side of the top surface 23 of the carton 14, and preferably adhesively secured thereto by glue, or the like. It is desirable, if not necessary, that the sheet 30 extend forwardly out of the carton 14 a predetermined distance, as indicated at 31, Figs. 7 to 10, to prevent articles, being inserted in the carton, from becoming snagged or otherwise fouled by engagement of the articles with the sheet during the article the sheet 30 be of less lengththa'n thecartonx14, thearticles would likely engage 'the forward edge of the sheet 30 and'cause-itto become snagged with the articles being-inserted. However, by lengthening the sheet 30,.so as to providefor a protrud- -ing edge 31, the forward end of the sheet 30 may be bent back or depressed so that the oncoming articles, tobe inserted in the carton, are free'to be slideasily and smoothly along the acetate surface, and be deposited easilyand readily inside of the carton 14. -In order to ;-prevent any'obstruction to the articles as :they are being inserted into the carton, the'side flaps 27 and 28, the end panel '25 and its tucktflapl26, as well as the acetate sheet '30, are turned over and thus .prevented from 'obstructing free entrance into the carton.

The-side'flaps 27 and 28 arecontinuations of the side edges of the carton and are integral therewith, being 'liing'ed to the carton sides 'by --score lines at the outer *side ends of the carton. Normally,' these side fla'ps have enough' springiness 'to prevent them from=extending :in- 'wa'rdly-in front of the open receiving'end-of the carton. This is particularly true of the trailing :left-han'd *flap 28, as the normal shiftable movement-of the'c'onveyor tends to hold outwardly the left-hand side flap.

The grooved a'rticle tray *4, Figs. 1 and 13, is juxtaposed immediately-opposite the carton'supp'ort-Sof the bucket 3, Fig. 12, 'so that -the-discharge end 32'of the article receiving tray 4 will be in veryclose proximity to the open or receiving end of the expanded carton 14. The side edges of the-article tray *4, at the discharging end thereof, are beveled oneach side, as indicated at 33, Fig. 13, so as to assist in maintaining the 'fi'aps27 and 28 out of the way of-the oncoming articles in the grooves ofthe article tray "4,;Fig. 12.

Carton shifting means 34, Figs. 1, 6, 11 and12,-'are provided to move each successive carton 14 close'to its-cooperatingarticle tray 4, so as to assist in holding the end flap -25 down, and to cause the side flaps 27 and 28 to be spread apart because ofthe action 'of the carton with the cooperating adjacent'en'd of the article tray'4.

The holdingmeans 34, 'Figs. 1,6, 11 and '12, "includes a pivotally mounted reciprocating arm 35, Fig. l, which is pivotally-mounted intermediate its ends, :being operated in an-up and down position by means or a link (not shown). The'mechanism for causing such vertical reciprocation of the arm 35 'isnot shown, but-it is-operatively driven from a correlated part of the operating mechanism of the machine so as to assume proper'timed relation 'andcorrelated movement with respect to theconveyor 2 and the transfer wheel 16.

The reciprocating arm 35, Fig. 1, is pivotally connected at its outer end, as at 36, to a rod or crank 37. The upper end of the rod 37 is pivotallycon- "nected at 38 to a block 39 which is fixed =to a cross shaft 40. The cross shaft 41 is suitably mounted in 'bearing's'to permit oscillatory movement about its horizontal axis. Vertical reciprocation of the'arm 35causes the arm 37 to reciprocate vertically. The vertical reciprocation of the crank arm 37 will'cause oscillatory 'rnovement'of the block 39. The block 39 is rigid with "an arm 41 which carries an integral cross plate 42, Figs. "1, '6, 11 and 12. The cross plate'42 moves in a horizontal path, being suitably supported and guided on the machine frame.

The cross plate 42, Figs. 1, '6, 11 and 12, carries two adjustable fingers 43 that push the carton inwardly against the inclined side edges 33 of the article tray- 4, Fig. 12. The'fingers 43, when pushed inwardly, cause the side fla'ps 27 and 28 to be spread outwardly andthe end panel 25 to be held downwardly.

Oscillating means 44, Figs. 1, 6, 9, 11 and 12, 'is provided to depress the projecting end 31 of the sheet '30 and to depress the end panel 25 to a position where these two elements may be held in anout-of-th'e'-way position.

latch (not 'shown) bar.

to a part or the machine -frame.

The oscillating means 44,-Fi'gs.-1, 6, ill- -and- 1-2,coin- .-prisesa horizontal --disp'osed-rig-id bar 45* which overlies the "top "of successive cartons 14 in their respective buckets 3 to hold the cartons forwardly -in -a downward position and -to ,-prevent them from shifting upwardly and away, from their-positions between the side :guiding'edges *6 of the carton support 5, the cartons merely sliding beneath the rigid bar '45- as=the cartons are 'being -rrioved by the conveyor 2. The bar-'45 is a" hold-dowmbar 'which may bel'j-pivotally mounted along and l-l. Aspring-49, Figs. '6-and 1 1, is arrauged' on top "of'th'e bar 45 "andbeneaththe arm47,=norrnally to urge the arm'47 upwardly, Fig. "6. A flat-bar or-strap '50 'is fastened" to' thearm 47 and '-to a cam member -51. The

llat plate or b'ar 50 "is slotted, Figs. "6 and 12, to .pro- 'vide adjustable movement'of'the cam member SI-with respect tothe arm'47. Theunder'side of thecam member 51--includes acam surface which is engaged by a'cam roller' 52 mountedto a member or support :53 'rigidlyse- 'c'u'red"to the cross arrn"42,"Fig. -1,'also 6. The cross arm 42 is' adaptedt0 'be shifted back and forth, whereupon the 1 :r'oller' 52' will e'ngage' the cam member-51, thus causing the forward end of the arm 47 to be forced"downwardly against the tension of the spring 49.

The forward or 'inn'e'r e'nd of the "arm 47 =carries ablade '54 which is 'operated by' the arm 47. The arm-47 is controlled by the reciprocating'movement-of-the bar42, a'nd inasm'uehas Y the arm -47 operates in proper timed relation with the-movement of'the'conVeyer-Z'when a carton -14 on the support 5 of a bucket 3 arrives at' apredeter'mined position, the -blade 54 will "engage the protruding end closure panel '25 and tbe pIojecting part '31 of the acetate sheet 30, and'c'ause them to he pr'es-sed'downwardly in the manner 's'ho'wn in Figs. 6, 9 and 10. Thedownward movement of the blade 54 engages the 'end closure panel '25 and the projection 31 of the sheet 30andfo'rces them downwardly. 'The projection 31 dn'the acetate sheet '30 is pressed downwardly to u'nderli'e the bottom surface of'the articlet'ray 4 which is immediately adjacent the discharge end "of the canon support 5. The naturalresiliency or springiness of thesheet 30, 'a fter-depressed, -wi1l "sr'1ap upwardly and, therefore, be maintained beneath the articl'e'tray '4. The :projectiii'ge'nd 31 of thesheet 30'is then in an' out of the-way position, whereupon articles on th'e 'arti'c tray *4 are 1 free 'to be mo'ved I into the carton without a'ny interference with the-acetate sheet-30. The blade 54 also'nioves th'e'end clo'sure panel-25 downwardly toaflidsitidn so that it will be located beneath the lower edge of a "thin bar 'o'r strip 55 which is "rigidly secured Therefore, the blade 54 causes the projecting edge 310i thea'cetate sheet 30, and the integral "closure panel 25, to be first moved in a downward 'ilpos'ition and 'then maintained in the *dep'ressed position because the "projecting end 31 underlies the lowerf'surface 'of'the tray 4 adjacent its discharge end, and-'the'closiire pa'nel 25 underlies 'the bottom of "the "rigid tr'ansverse bar I or strip 55, Fig. 9.

The'face of the blade 54, Figs. 6 and 9, is 'suchthat its free ou'tenedge 56, Fig. 9, "lies within the left-hand side 'of'the carton and fits right-hand 'sidefla'p-ZS. The oppo'siteend ofthe blade 54 is connected to'the arm '47 and'overlies th'e 'op'posite side edge of the carton. The blade "54, therefore, ispiovided with'a slot 57, 'Figs. -'6 and '9, to accommodate the right-hand side fl'ap -27 (to the left, Figs. 7 and'9). Thus,'whenthe blade 54 ismovedt'o its downward positionto deflect or depress the 'endj'parrel 25, its tuck flap :26 and the iprojections-31 of the sheet-30, the right-hand side'flap' 27 will be receivedjin the slet-57 of 'th'e'bl'ade 54. 'Wfter the 'dpres'sion of the end panel conveyer.

25 and the projection 31 of the sheet 30, the arm 45 is moved upwardly by the spring 49, as shown in Fig. 6; The

open receiving end of the carton 14 is now left'free and unobstructed to permit articles to be shifted from the article tray 4 directly into the carton 14 on the carton support 5. The carton parts remain in the unobstructed position until the conveyer 2 moves the buckets 3 to article filling position.

The means for closing the closure panel and the side flaps at'each end ofthe carton, after the articles are ejected from the tray 4 and inserted into the carton, are not shown, and do not comprise any part of the invention. These operations and the mechanism for carrying out the operations may be done by means heretofore used and well known in the art.

The invention, therefore, comprises moving a conveyer in a predetermined direction, and feeding expanded cartons successively into a transfer wheel which operates in a direction opposite to the directional movement of the The cartons are then mounted on top of a supporting plate of the bucket, the plate lying immediately adjacent the grooved article tray which supports the articles. The arm 47 is periodically reciprocated or oscillated in proper timed relation with the movement of the conveyer 2 so that when a carton 14 in a bucket 3 of the conveyer 2 arrives at a predetermined position, the end panel 25 and the projecting end 31 of the sheet 30 are moved to an out-of-the-way position. After the arm 47 has been raised by the spring 49, the projecting end 31 of the sheet,

the closure panel 25 and the flaps 27 and 28 will remain in place free from any interference with the articles on a tray 4 when the time has arrived to eject the articles from the tray 4 into the carton 14.

The invention is relatively simple in construction and operation, comprises but few and simple parts, all of which operate in proper correlation and in proper timed relation so that each individual operation will occur at precisely the proper time interval and in proper sequence. The driving mechanism, the gearing device and the appurtenances for causing the timed operation and relation of the parts are not shown, as they may comprise conventional elements. The invention, however, lies in that the parts are properly correlated, and even though the mechanism for causing this correlation is not shown, it is believed that the parts as described herein, and the purpose and mode of operation are such that a distinct and clear understanding is evident.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and.

the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a device of the class described, comprising a magazine containing a stack of superposed collapsed cartons, an intermittently operating conveyer arranged in a plane below the magazine, an article tray and a carton support on said conveyer, an intermittently rotating transfer wheel having spaced peripheral pockets and arranged adjacent the magazine and the conveyer and operating in timed relation with the conveyer, said conveyer operating in a direction opposite to the directional movement of the wheel, means for removing the lowermost carton from the stack, means for expanding the carton during the removal thereof from the magazine, movable means for pressing the expanded carton into the transfer wheel, oscillating means pushing a carton from said pockets of said wheel and applying it on said support, said carton having an end closure panel and side flaps at its filling end, and oscillating means operating in timed relation with the movement of the conveyer and wheel and engaging the end panel to depress said panel to a predetermined position below the top of the support to provide an unobstructed opening for the carton.

2. In a device of the class described, comprising a 75 cartons on their supports magazine containing a stack of superposed collapsed cartons, an intermittently operating conveyer arranged in a plane below the magazine, an article tray and a carton support on said conveyer, an intermittently rotating transfer wheel arranged adjacent the magazine and the conveyer and operating in timed relation with the conveyer, said wheel comprising spaced disks having cut-outs forming pockets said conveyer operating in a direction opposite to the directional movement of the wheel, means for removing the lowermost carton from the stack, means for expanding the carton during the removal thereof from the magazine, means for inserting the expanded carton into the pockets of the transfer wheel, oscillating means pressing a carton from said wheel and forcing it on said support, said carton having an end closure panel and side flaps at its filling end, oscillating means operating in timed relation with the movement of the conveyer and wheel and engaging the end panel to depress said panel to a predetermined position below the top of the support to provide an unobstructed opening for the carton, and means to shift the carton on its support for engagement with a part of the tray to spread the carton flaps apart.

3. In a machine of the class described for transferring and conveying successive cartons, each having an extending end closure panel including a tuck flap and opposed end flaps, a liner sheet inside of each carton between the flaps, there being an end of the liner sheet projecting beyond the open filling end of the carton, an intermittently operated bucket conveyer having adjacently arranged hingedly connected buckets each provided with an article tray and a juxtaposed carton support, means for applying a carton on a support of adjacent buckets successively, movable depressing means for depressing said projecting end of the sheet and said extending end panel including the tuck flaps in an out-of-the-way position at the open filling end of the carton and maintaining said end and the projecting end of the liner sheet in such position, means to shift the carton toward the article tray including an oscillating arm, a blade at the end of the arm, and means for operating the depressing means.

4. In a machine of the class described for transferring and conveying successive cartons each having an extending end closure panel and spaced side flaps, a liner sheet inside of the carton over said end and between the flaps, there being an end of the sheet projecting beyond the open filling end of the carton, an intermittently operated bucket conveyer having adjacently arranged hingedly connected buckets each provided with an article tray and a juxtaposed carton support, means for applying a carton on a support of adjacent buckets successively, movable depressing means for pressing said projecting end of the liner sheet and said extending end panel in an out-of-theway position at the open filling end of the carton, means maintaining said extending panel and said projecting end in such latter position, said last named means comprising a horizontally reciprocating member to shift the carton on its support toward the article tray and in engagement therewith, and reciprocating means operated by the reciprocating member for operating the depressing means.

5. In a machine of the class described for transferring and conveying cartons successively, said cartons each having anv extending end closure panel at one end and opposed side flaps, a sheet arranged inside of the carton between the fiaps, said sheet having a projecting part thereof extending beyond the end of the carton, an intermittently operated endless bucket conveyer having adjacently arranged hingedly connected buckets provided with an article tray and a juxtaposed carton support, means for applying a. carton on the carton support of each bucket, a bar on the machine underlying at least one bucket of the conveyer, depressing means to depress the closure panel to a point beneath the bar to maintain said panel in depressed position, and means to shift successive towards their adjacent article trays of each bucket, said depressing means depressing the projecting end of the sheet beneath the bottom of a tray opposite the carton support.

6. In a machine of the class described for transferring and conveying cartons successively, said cartons each having an extending end closure panel at one end and spaced side flaps, a sheet arranged inside of the carton, said sheet having a projecting part thereof extending between the flaps and beyond the end of the carton, an intermittently operated endless bucket conveyer having adjacently arranged hingedly connected buckets provided with an article tray and a juxtaposed carton support, means for applying a carton on the carton support of each bucket, a bar on the machine underlying at least one bucket of the conveyer, depressing means to depress the closure panel to a point beneath the bar to maintain said panel in depressed position, and means to shift successive cartons on their supports towards their adjacent article trays of each bucket, said depressing means depressing the projecting end of the sheet beneath the bottom of a tray opposite the carton support, said depressing means depressing the closure panel and the sheet projection simultaneously.

7. In a machine of the class described, comprising an intermittently operating conveyer having adjacent hingedly connected buckets, said buckets each having an article receiving tray and an adjacently positioned carton support, a carton inserted face down on the carton support, said carton including side flaps and an end closure panel, a sheet arranged inside of the carton and having a projecting end extending a predetermined distance outward of the free open filling end of the carton, means to move said side flaps outwardly in an out-of-the-way position, means for depressing said projecting end of the sheet and the closure panel to provide a free and unobstructed opening at the filling end of the carton, said last named means comprising a horizontal shiftable member for shifting the carton on the carton tray toward the article tray, and vertically reciprocal means for engaging the projecting end of the sheet and the closure panel to depress said end and panel to a predetermined position.

8. In a machine of the class described, comprising an intermittently operating conveyer having adjacent hingedly connected buckets, said buckets each having an article receiving tray and an adjacently positioned carton support, a carton inserted face down on the carton support, said carton including side flaps and an end closure panel, a sheet arranged inside of the carton and having a projecting end extending a predetermined distance outward of the free open filling end of the carton, and means to move said side flaps outwardly in an out-ofthe-way position, said last named means including a transverse horizontal reciprocating member engaging a rear end of the carton to shift the carton toward the article tray, and beveled side edges on the tray engaging said side flaps.

9. In a machine of the class described, comprising an intermittently operating conveyer having adjacent hingedly connected buckets, said buckets each having an article receiving tray and an adjacently positioned carton support, a carton inserted face down on the carton support, said carton including side flaps and an end closure panel, a sheet arranged inside of the carton and having a projecting end extending a predetermined distance outward of the free open filling end of the carton, and means to move said side flaps outwardly in an out-of-theway position, said last named means including a transverse horizontal reciprocating member engaging a rear end of the carton to shift the carton toward the article tray, and beveled side edges on the tray engaging said side flaps, and depressing means operated by said horizontal reciprocating member to depress said sheet end beneath the bottom of a tray.

10. In a machine of the class described, comprising an intermittently operating conveyer having adjacent hingedly connected buckets, said buckets each having an article receiving tray and an adjacently positioned carton support, a carton inserted face down on the carton support, said carton including side flaps and an end closure panel, a sheet arranged inside of the carton and having a projecting end extending a predetermined distance outward of the free open filling end of the carton, and means to move said side flaps outwardly in an out-of-the-way position, said last named means including a transverse horizontal reciprocating member engaging a rear end of the carton to shift the carton toward the article tray, beveled side edges on the tray engaging said side flaps, and depressing means operated by said horizontal reciprocating member to depress said sheet end beneath the bottom of a tray, said depressing means depressing the end panel simultaneously with the depressing operation of the sheet end.

11. In a machine of the class described, comprising an intermittently operating conveyer having adjacent hingedly connected buckets, said buckets each having an article receiving tray and an adjacently positioned carton support, a carton inserted face down on the carton support, said carton including said flaps and an end closure panel, a sheet arranged inside of the carton and having a projecting end extending a predetermined distance outward of the free open filling end of the carton, and means to move said side flaps outwardly in an out-of-theway position, said last named means including a transverse horizontal reciprocating member engaging a rear end of the carton to shift the carton toward the article tray, beveled side edges on the tray engaging said side flaps, depressing means operated by said horizontal reciprocating member to depress said sheet end beneath the bottom of a tray, said depressing means depressing the end panel simultaneously with the depressing operation of the sheet end, and a rigid strip underlying a predetermined bucket, said strip overlying the panel after said panel is depressed by the depressing means.

12. In a device of the class described, comprising a magazine containing a stack of superposed collapsed cartons, an intermittently operated conveyer comprising hingedly connected buckets arranged in a plane below the magazine, said buckets including an article tray and a carton support, means to operate said conveyer, an intermittently rotating transfer wheel comprising a pair of spaced apart disks having oppositely disposed cut-outs forming carton receiving pockets, means to operate the transfer wheel in timed relation with the buckets, means movable between said disks to insert an expanded carton in a pocket of the transfer wheel, means for operating said conveyer in a direction opposite to the directional movement of the transfer wheel, ejector means arranged between said disks at the lower end of the transfer wheel and above the buckets for forcing an expanded carton from the pocket into the carton support of a bucket, and means to operate said ejector means in timed relation with the conveyer and transfer wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,116,607 Milmoe May 10, 1938 2,637,958 Lippman et al May 12, 1953 2,643,497 Woelfer June 30, 1953 2,762,274 Kerr Sept. 11, 1956 

